Providing the video marble was a choice Nique made after serious consideration.
He didn't want to appear as a witness, which would increase his exposure rate to one hundred percent.
So, he'd rather risk angering Law than provide the video marble, to avoid becoming an attending witness.
But who knew things would ultimately turn out like this?
Nique wasn't just heartbroken now… he also felt a deep sadness.
The marble was in Morel's hand. He looked at Nique's eyes filled with pleading and hope, then averted his gaze.
A blatant rejection.
Nique's heart sank. Shamelessly, he pursued, "Um, about the video marble..."
Morel hadn't yet shaken off the unwilling feelings in his heart when he heard Nique continuing to pester. He glanced sideways at Nique and said flatly, "I'll hand the marble over to Law to handle."
Nique's face changed. His fox genes kicked into gear at this moment.
In an instant, he guessed Morel's reasons for wanting to give the marble to Law to handle.
First, the subject of the surveillance was Law. Second, Morel believed Law had the right to handle the marble.
"That marble was produced by my ability, so only I can destroy the footage stored inside," Nique cautiously worded his argument.
Theoretically, the first thought of the person under surveillance was to destroy the footage. Taking that stance, presumably Morel would think so too?
Morel held the marble and said, "I don't think so. When a stamped DVD becomes obsolete, does it have to be sent back to the manufacturer for disposal? Any kid with a hammer can handle it, right? Your Nen likely also needs to follow this rule. And it's a marble."
"If you smash it, the beautiful patterns inside will be gone forever."
"...."
Nique lowered his head in despair, speechless.
Morel's guess was correct. Items like marbles only have value when intact. Once shattered, they're just ordinary glass shards.
Therefore, the argument that only he could destroy the footage couldn't hold up.
Facing Morel, who had rich Nen Ability's experience, he couldn't hide anything.
Morel looked at the silent, lowered head of Nique, didn't press further, and put the marble away.
Despite his reluctance, since Law had made his stance clear, he could only comply.
In this matter itself, Netero had no objections.
But Moses felt he wasn't qualified to bear that huge achievement. Since Law didn't want it, he would give up too.
Beside him, Knov seemed to discern Morel's decision but said nothing.
Having known each other for so long, he already understood Morel's kind of inflexible, upright attitude.
Indeed, judging by actual actions, letting the two of them take the lion's share of the achievements was undeserved. But at least they had contributed effort and even nearly died.
Knov and Morel had fundamentally different ways of thinking.
In Knov's view, if they didn't accept these achievements, they would eventually be taken by the Temp Hunters.
Just thinking that way made him unwilling to give up.
However, Knov didn't plan to persuade Morel either. After all, that was Morel's style and decision.
Beep beep.
A message arrived on his phone.
Knov took out his phone to look. It was Cheadle requesting to enter the Hide-and-Seek Space.
"Cheadle wants to come in. I'll go get her."
Knov waved his phone and walked towards the door.
Nique, feeling utterly defeated, shrank into a corner, trying to minimize his presence.
Netero and Linne chatted casually, while Beans served tea and water on the side.
"It seems you'll have to continue 'sitting' for a while longer," Linne glanced at Morel sitting silently on the sofa.
"Who can say for sure?" Netero said calmly.
Both elders knew what kind of effect that marble footage would have in the subsequent power struggle.
It would benefit Law but also put Netero at a disadvantage in the storm of his possible stepping down.
Both elders aware of this point didn't explicitly state it. The person involved, Netero, didn't even object.
Because they couldn't refute Morel's goodwill in seeking what others deserved.
Probably, Law's intentional phone call had something to do with Cheadle, who was about to come to the room, right?
…
The sky was overcast, the air held obvious moisture, and the light breeze on their faces carried a slight chill.
The road was full of traffic, and the sidewalks were also crowded with people coming and going.
Machi's group took a taxi to the Hunter Association's Headquarters. Compared to the congested traffic elsewhere, medium-level traffic control was implemented here, making it look much more comfortable.
The group got out of the car and walked straight towards the Association's main entrance.
Beads of sweat appeared on Menchi's and Buhara's foreheads.
Although mentally prepared, when this moment truly happened, it still had a certain visual impact.
They entered the lobby, then walked into the elevator as if nobody was there, going straight to the 16th floor.
The whole process was calm, without a single ripple.
Seeing this, Menchi and Buhara, as Association members, finally relaxed a little.
Reaching the 16th floor, it was the domain of the Lawlin Museum.
Sabro was already waiting for Machi's group. Seeing them emerge from the elevator, a smile appeared on his old face. "Welcome, welcome. Come on in."
"Is there any food? I'm hungry."
Buhara was familiar with Sabro and directly asked his most pressing question.
Sabro shot him a look. "I knew you'd be like this. Got some prepared for you."
Saying so, he ushered everyone into the company.
Machi, Nobunaga, and Uvogin were Law's people, so they were also his, Sabro's, own people.
Following Sabro into the company, a glance around revealed nothing but emptiness and quiet.
Near the corner wall were many bookshelves, each filled with books.
Not far away was a table where a beautiful woman sat, and on the table before her sat a creature with a peculiar appearance.
That was Salin and Bruna.
At the moment, Bruna was telling Salin about the time inside the Island Crab's belly.
Salin was listening with great interest, occasionally noting her observations in a notebook.
Further to the right was a sofa area for guests. A golden-haired girl with a ponytail sat on the sofa, reading a magazine about pretty boys with great interest.
It was Biscuit Krueger, her eyes sparkling at the photos of handsome men in the magazine.
Sabro brought Machi's group to the sofa area, showing Machi particular care. His enthusiasm was like tea wildly overflowing from a cup, eye-catching.
His enthusiastic manner seemed like he was entertaining a daughter-in-law.
Machi was somewhat overwhelmed.
Nobunaga and Uvogin didn't care at all, sitting down on their own and eating the things on the coffee table.
Buhara was the same, his attention on the dazzling array of food on the coffee table.
"You're here."
Biscuit put down the magazine and glanced at everyone.
Then, Biscuit looked at Sabro and teased, "Tone it down a bit. Anyone who doesn't know might think you're trying to prey on younger women."
Hearing this, Sabro widened his eyes. "You can't say that! I still want to receive a toast from Law at his wedding!"
Hearing this, Machi was taken aback. Everyone couldn't help but look at Machi.
'Wedding and toast?'
'What did that mean?'
Even the slow-witted Buhara couldn't help but stop what he was doing and look at Machi.
"Rather than that, you should solve your own single-status problem properly."
At that moment, Salin's words, destroying Sabro's dignity, drifted over coldly, like a large stone ruthlessly smashing onto Sabro's head.